Replacement for Bullet

[Tim Hale]

Hi,

My chum likes my Bullet but wants something better but it seems that all the nice metric thumpers of the 90's seem to have ceased production and so he is looking at an ER5 as a 'cooking' Sunday bike.

I had better explain a little more, we live in a rural area and we own long distance cruisers but they really aren't much fun on Sunday morning back lane blaps. I own an '02 Bullet Clubmans and it is fast enough for fun but small enough to get around the lanes hence we thought about an ER5 (simple/practical/low impact)

Any ideas of bikes that might fiit the bill? And no, we don't want a 'sports' bike.

Thanks

Tim

[bullet350]

xt600 with electric boot? i've got a cb500 (honda version of er5) and its got no real grunt and it has to be revved a hell of a lot just for normal riding. suzuki sv650's are as simple as the er5, better finished and have some bottom end grunt that parallel twins don't.

350 bullet

[guest18]

Look for an MuZ 660 at the right price? Plenty stomp, proven Yamaha engine and decent cycleparts allied to sensible(ish) prices...

[hondamichael]

depends what you realy want ?

i personelly expected  from my bike :
                            it should be a single (it is 4 valves dohc)
                            light (under 150 kilo )
                            easy to handle (makes fun in every corner)
                            fast enough for uk roads (goes easy up to 80mph depending on conditions even up to 90thats more then fast enough to  get points on my lisence)
                            should return a reasonable mpg ( if pushed hard 90mpg easy going up to 110mpg)
                           so what are your expectations from a bike ( i found my bike )

[Tim Hale]

Well, that is clever, what is your bike or should we guess?

[hondamichael]

it`s a HONDA CBF 250  its on the market here in uk since 2004 in brasil since 2000  there you get also loads of tuning parts inclusiv all sorts of full and half fairings , bore up kits , exhaust systems pretty much everything they even have a race series in south america with the cbf 250 , there its called cbx250 twister

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006/04/25/bikepics-572722-800.jpg
http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006/04/25/bikepics-572716-800.jpg
perfect for filtering and twisties
he lost the dashboard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdw5zTZQplE

here a link to mercado livre brasil have a look for parts there cheap a chips
£1 is 5.5 brasilian real  or 1brasilian real  is £0.18
http://lista.mercadolivre.com.br/twister_CategID_5672
here is a tuned one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We3SRKV_Q2k

[Tim Hale]

Strangely enough I was thinking of one of the direct access-type machines or a Triumph Bonneville. The bike is needed as a puttering machine for the rural roads in our vicinity which are not much fun on a cruiser and an accident in waiting for a sports machine.

Most trips are Sunday morning rides of 50-60 miles and then return, the Bullet is doing well to fill this slot but there are days when something newer is needed (the Bullet has been tweaked as is somewhat fun to start). The Bonneville is almost perfect for this time of low impact riding, build quality is OK and the retro-look ticks a lot of boxes.

Thanks for the suggestion of a Honds 250CBF, neat machine.

Tim

[andi230]

Look for an MuZ 660 at the right price? Plenty stomp, proven Yamaha engine and decent cycleparts allied to sensible(ish) prices...

Yeah...

MZ Skorpions are fairly cheap, cheerful enough, plenty of scope for more "go", electric leg, and (allegedly) "brilliant" handling, in my experience, its only "pretty good"!

a

[Andy M]

Strangely enough I was thinking of one of the direct access-type machines or a Triumph Bonneville. The bike is needed as a puttering machine for the rural roads in our vicinity which are not much fun on a cruiser and an accident in waiting for a sports machine.

Most trips are Sunday morning rides of 50-60 miles and then return, the Bullet is doing well to fill this slot but there are days when something newer is needed (the Bullet has been tweaked as is somewhat fun to start). The Bonneville is almost perfect for this time of low impact riding, build quality is OK and the retro-look ticks a lot of boxes.

Thanks for the suggestion of a Honds 250CBF, neat machine.

Tim

A Bonneville for "puttering" is a bit of a waste, mine'll cruise 2 up at 90 with full camping gear and is well capable of getting points on your ticket. That said I'd heartily recommend them, very capable and well built and certainly fun for a morning on the twisties. They are true all rounds. You'll be looking at £2500-3000 for 2-4 year old bikes, anything over and you might as well buy new, Triumph will make you stupid deals to get you on the brand. Just ignore all the guff they'll send you afterwards trying to sell you a Rocket!

My dad had an ER-5. Very reliable and pretty capable, but honestly a bit souless. Sent him nuts to the point of making him think a Guzzi was a good idea!!

I replaced my Bullet with an MZ301. More reliable in day to day use and about 20 mph faster on the motorway, but only fun if you enjoy wringing a two-strokes neck on the twisties (which I do).

I'd reccomend the XT600 route. All weather, capable of pretty much anywhere you are allowed these days and you should be able to use 95% of the available performance. The power is there, but the frame style and tyres keep you thinking. I'd have another one tomorrow, but haven't the space.

Andy

[beeman]

xt's are fine but Some of us who are vertically challenged sometimes have problems getting on and off!!!!!

[guest27]

Ach - find a curb.

Used to know a guy - in Plymouth - with a CB1100R - his feet would not touch the ground and watching him push it from side to side both feet off the ground as it went over centre - as he started it, put it in gear etc was fun.  As was traffic lights etc.  Mind could he ride - and no weight penalty.

[Martin Churchill]

My 612cc Bullet GT cafe-racer is plenty fast enough and good fun, but it aint relaxing to ride.  For a good, cheap, backroads hooligan machine (wiv forgiving handling plus a bit of class) my Ducati Monster 900 does the job: 11 years old and £1,500 off ebay a year ago.

[Andy M]

xt's are fine but Some of us who are vertically challenged sometimes have problems getting on and off!!!!!

I'm 5 foot 8 in boots and managed the XT quite well. The narrow-tall seat is the key. Now for a BMW GS I was once loaned I had to stow a step ladder on the engine bars. Wide and tall seat, innit.

Andy

[Tim Hale]

I have owned an XT and found it similar to running on tiptoe, maybe a good set of road tyres and it would be a good idea but I prefer the twins.

We have tried the Direct Access bikes and also found them uninspring but cheap to own and run, we also tried a Valdero and found it too similar to the XT.

All the Italian mid-range bikes were a tad badly made and not a lot of inspiration amongst any of the them.

It's either a Bonneville or a BMW R80/7, both are small bikes with half-decent motors, perfect for the roads around West Dorset and more capable than the Bullet. The trouble is finding a two-tone T100 for less than £3500 but the ancient R80/7 is in better nick than some of the 03 Bonnevilles that I have ridden and 50% less.

[bullet350]

the bmw's are fantastic. however, if it doesn't start on a prod of the button leave well alone. also if the charge light doesn't go out completely above about 1400rpm walk away. the electrics on these are expensive and can be lots of trouble if you get a bad 'un.

have you thought about a sportster? air cooled, bullet-proof and low mileage for £3'000, 1200's a bit more.

350bullet